George l



(No Model.)

G. L. PUTNAM.

METALLIC RAILWAY'TIE. Nb. 267,930. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

WITNESSES: {7; ngu'rom/ .J, m

ATTORNEYS;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. PUTNAM, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

METALLIC RAILWAY-Tl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,930, dated November 21, 1882.

Application filed July 14, I882. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. PU'INAM, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Railway- Ties, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of one of thy-improved ties, showing one rail in place. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken through the line 3 y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the tie.

The object of this invention is to provide strong, durable, and economical railway-ties.

A represents one of my metallic ties, which is made hollow, open at both ends, and with an opening, B, in the middle part of its upper side. In the upper side of the tie A, toward each end, at a distance apart equal to the required distance apart of the rails O, are formed recesses D, of suflicieut width and depth to receivethe bases of the said rails 0. In the upper parts of the tie A, at the opposite edges of the recesses D, are formed square holes E, tapered from their lower ends; upward to receive the tapered square spikes F, which are inserted upward in the said holes E, and have their ends bent down over the flanges of the rails O, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to clamp the rails (l securely in place. With this construction the edges of the bases of the rails 0 rest against the shoulders of the recesses D, so that itwill be impossible for the rails to spread so long as they are held down in the said recesses D. It will be perceived that my spike-fastenings on opposite sides of the rail. are separate and distinct, so that if one becomes broken or it is desired to remove a rail the fastening can be readily driven out and a new one inserted; also, that my spike-fastening tapers from the bottom upward, so that the greater strain on the fastening the tighter it will be drawn, while in removal it will only be necessary to start it downward, when it can be readily taken out by hand. With this construction, in some places the interior of the ties A can be filled with ballast to anchor the ties more securely in place. In other places the interior of the ties A can be left open to serve as drains to the track.

The ties can be made solid, if desired, as shown in Fig. 4, in which case the spike-hole E should extend entirely through the said ties. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

The combination, with a railway-tie having square tapering holes E, of the spikes F, taper- 'ing upwardly from the bottom, as and for the purpose specified.

GEORGE L. PUTNAM.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, G. SEDGWICK. 

